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Rotating control panels in the CNC age... why so rare still?
marioxb:
Ok, now I just need someone to build it for me. I have no idea where to begin or get the parts for something like that.
Xiaou2:
--- Quote ---If you love the challenge of building things, how come you never finish anything?
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You mean, like the custom fully working Starwars yoke I finished?
You mean, like the custom fully working Super Hangon controller I finished? (with a modded magnetic reed switch, cause mame team wouldnt make the games music select screen controllable with a Normal controller)
You mean, like the custom fully working Sinistar joystick I built?
You mean like the Fully Functional 2 player control panel I built with custom dual rollerblade bearing spinner I made?
You mean like the Fully working Disc Brake assy. on the Prototpe rotating CP?
You mean like the metal Kick pole training device I finished?
You mean like the 6 section sandbag unit that the top section can slide or lock in place, that works full?
You mean the Custom built wheel platforms I put on my Drill Press and Tablesaw?
Or maybe you mean the restoration I made on an Ice Cold Beer machine, and sold it for $800 ?
No? How about the Scan I did on a local collectors Discs of Tron backdrop, and sent in to mame?
Maybe your referring to my multi-sliding-parts-table shelf system, about 4' x 4' x 8' ,with about 7 table-shelves?
Thats just a slice of the completed projects Ive done. Of course, getting sicker and having no energy for the last +8 years or so, didnt help.. as I found I became gluten intolerant, as well as can no longer eat eggs, dairy, or soy. That and losing a few jobs at varying times.
--- Quote ---My DB9 was just an example, any connector (even LPT if pin count is the issue, but 9 pins is 8 wires and a ground, which is actually enough for a joystick, start, and 3 buttons)you want could be used, even numerous USB plugs if you choose, also what Dave said, you wouldn't swap 20 times I day I'd think.
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As Ive said, both of those kinds of connectors are not suited to a large number of connect and disconnects. Its not how many times you swap a day. Its the pure number of uses period. And, they are not very smooth nor easy to hook and unhook.
A printer cable has two specific ends. The larger end, that hooks to the printer itself, is more robust, and better suited to the task. But then your still gona have to find the male mate, and solder a ton of tiny pins... and 25 pins still isnt a lot.
--- Quote ---I wasn't exaggerating, I think you misunderstood my point. My point was that rotating a panel and swapping a panel take about the same amount of time, but a swappable panel wouldnt take as long to design and implement.
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Sorry, but its simply not true. Most swappable panels are not so easy to change over. And since theres no pull out and put away time... your looking at a 2-3 minute saving per change. VS a mere few seconds to rotate.
--- Quote ---You notice the DB9 statement, but gloss over the magnet / velcro one. Wouldn't need to open anything to pull up on a panel. Of course I don't know how practical that is, but industrial velcro holds on my control panels on my bartops.
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Velcro is a caveman hack. Its will raise your panel... and make it difficult in a large mounting system, to deal with. Plus it will degrade over time and need to be replaced. Theres far better ways to lock panels down.
--- Quote ---My racing cab is a stand up cab (converted pole position). The best (In My Opinion) 2 player racing games are the twin cabs. While games like Ivan Stewards Off Road and Super Sprint are fun, I prefer more modern racers. I have a 720 degree wheel with buttons on it, and Spy Hunter is pretty great to play.
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--- Quote ---It is ironic that I cant play Pole Position though. All mame needs to do is to code in a "steering center reset" button, so I can center the wheel after a crash and hit a button.
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Its not Ironic. Trying to play a game like Supersprint that way, would be a horrible way to play that game. The whole fun and challenge behind supersprint, is being able to whip the wheel as fast as you can... let go... then stop it after several turns, at just the correct moment.
Pole position isnt as extreme as that. However, if it were modded to play with a standard wheel.. it would probably be too easy. The difficulty in PP, is mostly the sensitivity of the wheel.
--- Quote ---How much more space is a second cab going to take over a single cab with a 6 sided horizontally rotating control panel? 2 cabs side by side is about 5feet by 3 feet and 1 cab can go in a corner. I think your theoretical cabinet takes up around the same amount of room.
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That was a comparison to something like Pacmame, vs a standard cab. In my case, even two or 3 cabs would not be enough to have all the controllers available. In my design, it will have a couch like seat for 2 or more players, so its comparable to a dual racer sit down. But it will play much more than just driving games, without needing the space for additional standup cabs.
--- Quote ---I refuse to get into a wico, happ, etc button joystick debate, that's all preference.
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Sorry, but its not preference. Its mechanical advantage. Its pure and scientific. You dont see Olympic runners wearing combat boots to a race. Theres a reason for that. ... And thats one of the Biggest reasons why I scrapped my proto.. because I made that realization, and so everything needed to be redesigned all over again.
--- Quote ---I'm pretty sure I'm older than you, I'll be 35 in November.
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I just passed 40 in August. :'( I also live in a place where the arcades were few and huge... and there was never any video game crash. Ive pretty much played all the classics, and even many rare machines, at that time period... as well as have played many more, in collectors houses and the local game museum.
When I was like 25, I was managing an arcade of 42 or so games, many of which rotated from store to store. Got to see and experience all the various controllers and inner workings of these mechanisms.
--- Quote ---While you were an arcade manager, I was a factory worker in an automotive plant; please stop the arcade to car comparisons. They are convoluted at best.
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Theres little difference in mechanics of quality arcade assemblies. But beyond that fact, its the actual experience with the games themselves. How they play, feel, and what the special traits of the mechanics do for the the game experience.
Furthermore, assembling parts or pressing a button all day long, isnt the same as diagnosing and trying to repair games and their many mechanical issues. Its not rocket science. But the experiences give you new eyes to how these things really function, and the reasoning behind every facet of the parts and methods that were used.
--- Quote ---I thought this was a discussion on why rotating panels arent popular, not a discussion about you.
Sorry for the too long reply everyone :(
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My initial discussion was on Rotating control panels and my personal experience with them. You have chosen to challenge, insult, and attack me personally... as always.. and then whine when I put down a return reply.
I think you should consider not wasting others time, as well as your own, by replying to me.. considering you dont know how to be civil, rather than just being a giant Dick.
CoryBee:
--- Quote from: Xiaou2 on September 28, 2013, 04:20:49 pm ---
--- Quote ---If you love the challenge of building things, how come you never finish anything?
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waka waka
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Justin?
Malenko:
Guess we're in petty bicker mode :/ Fuggit, I'll feed you.
--- Quote from: Xiaou2 on September 28, 2013, 04:20:49 pm ---
--- Quote ---If you love the challenge of building things, how come you never finish anything?
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Like all the projects I said I finished and never posted pix or build threads to?
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yes
As for connectors, I wasnt citing a specific example, just giving a generalized one. I'm sure there's some connector out there that will be useful, even something like cat5 and RJ45 jacks. As for swappable panels not being easy to swap, if your theoretical rotating one is perfect, so is my theoretical swapping one. As for Velcro, you could route away some material, or offset the gap in some other way. The very slight raise on my bartops is not noticeable. I had also said maybe Magnets, but theres TONS of ways to achieve this. Im a network engineer not a mechanical one. I'd more inclined to listen to Neph or Cory before I'd advocate anyone listen to me for something like that. Giving an example doesnt mean Im saying its the best or only choice.
--- Quote from: Xiaou2 on September 28, 2013, 04:20:49 pm --- Its not Ironic.
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Ok you lost me, please explain to me like I'm a 5 year old why not being able to play Pole Position on a Pole Position machine is not ironic. As for Happ Wico etc, it still boils down to preference. Yeah Athletes might wear the right shoe for the job, but they dont all wear Nike, some wear ADIDAS, Reebok, etc
--- Quote from: Xiaou2 on September 28, 2013, 04:20:49 pm --- I just passed 40 in August.
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Holy ---fudgesicle---, act your age then. Ok that's me being the aforementioned giant dick. However Im only slightly younger than you, and I lucked out enough to play a great number of real arcade machines in their prime which just disproves your theory that Im so young I didnt get to.
--- Quote --- Furthermore, assembling parts or pressing a button all day long, isnt the same as diagnosing and trying to repair games and their many mechanical issues. Its not rocket science. But the experiences give you new eyes to how these things really function, and the reasoning behind every facet of the parts and methods that were used.
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You're right, working in an automotive factory for a decade is a cake walk compared to managing a chuck e cheese.
--- Quote ---You have chosen to challenge, insult, and attack me personally... as always.. and then whine when I put down a return reply.
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I didnt see a single insult in anything I posted, a playful jab with the"how come you never finish anything with that sinister SMILEY FACE at the end. If you can quote me in this thread insulting you (this reply doesnt count, neither does Xeth, thats more of an inside joke than an insult!) I'll gladly apologize and mean it. I for one think Ive been pretty civil. The bulk of my replies has been about the the subject at hand, not you.
:cheers:
Xiaou2:
Not having build info up doesnt mean they were not completed. A lot of stuff I took down, due to people who wanted to be negative, bash and insult me. Im not the only one, and I question whether to share anything new I build as a result.
--- Quote ---As for connectors, I wasnt citing a specific example, just giving a generalized one. I'm sure there's some connector out there that will be useful, even something like cat5 and RJ45 jacks.
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I was stating my knowledge and experience with connectors, based on your theory of what should work well. As a network engineer, Im somewhat surprised to hear you appoint RJ45. They can be notoriously painful to plug and unplug... and cat5 only has 8wires. Far better to use a printer cable with 25 pins, even if its not perfect for slide-ablity connection.
The point being, we were discussing the ease of control panel swapping.. as well as the challenges of the rotating cp vs the swappables... and even the modulars. Each has its strengths and weaknesses. Each has its costs, space, and cost differences. Each has a valid reason why they may be utilized... even if you do may not understand or agree with it.
--- Quote ---As for swappable panels not being easy to swap, if your theoretical rotating one is perfect, so is my theoretical swapping one.
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This has nothing to do with perfect. It has to do with lost time & manual labor efforts. Even with a quick externally triggered spring lock control panel... you still have to set the old panel down, open the cab, dig out and lift the correct panel without grinding the sides up, damaging the corners or controllers, then lift up to install, and finally, lift and slide put the other panel back into the cabinet.
A rotator does not require any furniture moving (lifting of masses and swapping). Its an effortless and quick action.. rather than a chore, to swap controls.
This isnt Theoretical. Its factual.
--- Quote --- As for Velcro, you could route away some material, or offset the gap in some other way. The very slight raise on my bartops is not noticeable. I had also said maybe Magnets, but theres TONS of ways to achieve this. Im a network engineer not a mechanical one. I'd more inclined to listen to Neph or Cory before I'd advocate anyone listen to me for something like that. Giving an example doesnt mean Im saying its the best or only choice.
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Sorry, but the way you posted made it sound like you were an expert on what to do, and why.
Magnets may be an interesting thing to try.. so long as they are shielded so they dont erase your bank cards.
But magnets are also tough to remove without a wedge-unlock mechanism. Which if your going that far, might as well just make a cabled release - auto spring-lock setup.
Velcro may be ok for a bartop.. but magnets would probably be better than velcro, in that they wont degrade nor pick up gunk like velcos crud-collecting fuzz.
Quote from: Xiaou2 on Yesterday at 04:20:49 pm
Its not Ironic.
--- Quote ---please explain to me like I'm a 5 year old why not being able to play Pole Position on a Pole Position machine
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hah. Sorry, I breezed over that it was a PP machine. It surely is sad that PP cant be played. Why not put a spinner on it? A spinner takes up little space, could be mounted horizontally on the front of the CP, and would play 1000x better than button or code-hacked pot wheels.
--- Quote ---Holy ---fudgesicle---, act your age then. Ok that's me being the aforementioned giant dick. However Im only slightly younger than you, and I lucked out enough to play a great number of real arcade machines in their prime which just disproves your theory that Im so young I didnt get to.
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Im not the one launching childish insults and attacks, so I believe you should consider than when reviewing your own age :P
Also, as I said, it was a guess... due to your responses. Then again, I played Robotron as a kid.. never knowing what was under the CP... nor even getting good enough to realize why that was important. At that time, it wasnt one of my Favs due to how young I was.. and how it ate all my lives in sheer seconds. Games like Sinistar however, even being very difficult.. I clearly remember how the special controller on it made a huge impact with accuracy, over other typical analog games. Even without seeing under the hood.. you could easily feel it.
I also didnt understand leaf switches, even back then. Didnt like them till I finally learned, within maybe the last 14 yrs, how to use them properly, to get the advantages the attain, in certain games.
--- Quote ---You're right, working in an automotive factory for a decade is a cake walk compared to managing a chuck e cheese.
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Never claimed that at all. Some Factory work sucks. I used to work in a PCB factory, doing a monotonous job of lithography.
I was claiming that having mechanical experience with the actual machines and controllers, gives you a certain level of awareness and experience that others may not have. Hence the reason, you may not realize the value of a certain custom specialty controller, over a generic so/so controller.
--- Quote ---doesnt count, neither does Xeth
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Theres a little thing about jabs.. is that if you deliver enough of them, eventually your probably going to end up eating a cross.